Air distribution means



April 14, 1959 F. D. STEVENS 2,831,689

. AIR DISTRIBUTION MEANS Filed Feb. 1, 1957 2' Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. FRAN'K o. STEVENS.

ATTORNEY.

F. D. STEVENS AIR DISTRIBUTION MEANS April 14; 1959 Fild Feb. 1, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FRANK D. STEVENS.

WJM

ATTORNEY.

United States Patent AIR DISTRIBUTION MEANS Frank D. Stevens, Syracuse, N.Y., assignor to Carrier Corporation, Syracuse, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Application February 1, 1957, Serial No. 637,721

4 Claims. (CI. 9840) This invention relates to air distribution equipment, more particularly to equipment designed for the distribution of conditioned air in any given area.

.The. provision of various types of equipment designed to vary thepsychrometric properties of the air in any given area engenders problems in connection with the distribution of the air, from the air conditioning mechanism to the area. Thus, where conventional room air conditioners are employed, the mere fact that the mechanism serves to'iemit air having desired psychrometric properties is insufiicient, since it is necessary to arrange for distribution of the conditioned air so as to provide maximumcomfort to the occupants of the room. This maybest be accomplished by provision of grill work assume intake and exit orifices of the conditioning mechanism .so as to insure optimum circulation conditions in the area. It is further desirable that these circulation conditions are adjustable to suit the individual physical and psychological needs of the occupants of the The short blows of an air stream which some individuals may find desirable, are not preferred by others. It [is also necessary to provide some means serving to facilitate the use of any given air conditioning equipment under various conditions of occupancy of the room as',well as providing a single air distribution system capable of serving a variety of room configurations.

-It is with the above problems in mind that the present construction has been evolved, a construction providing adjustable means facilitating the circulation of conditioned air through any given area. The novel construction here provided functions to permit selection by any given-user of either short blows of an air stream or alternatively, a long air blow. It is additionally possible to vary the lateral distribution of the air stream. Accordingly, it is a primary object of this invention toprovide improvedair distribution means.

'A further object of this invention is to provide air distribution means for use in conjunction with air conditioning apparatus to facilitate the distribution of the conditioned air through any given area.

Another object of this invention is to provide an air distribution grill for use in conjunction with air conditioning equipment which serves to enhance the esthetic appearance of the conditioning mechanism, as well as its utilitarian features.

Another object of the invention is to provide air distribution means permitting control of the lateral distribution of an air stream.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an improved air distribution grill which may be positioiied as desired by'any given user to provide either a short blow of an air stream, or a long air blow.

additionalobject of the invention is the provision ofwan. air distributing system that may be utilized in a number of different applications.

assembly that'may, by the properv manipulation of cer In other words, it is anobject of this invention to provide an air distribution charge ducts of the air conditioner.

ice

tain of the components, be employed in any of a number of areas, each of which has a different configuration.

These and other objects of the invention which will become apparent from the following description and claims, are achieved by provision of a primary facade grill in conjunction with an air conditioning mechanism. The primary facade grill comprises two sets of horizontally extending parallel vanes, one set arranged at a relatively shallow angle with respect to a plane perpendicular to the grill, and adjacent these shallow angle vanes an additional set of parallel vanes, lying at a relatively steep angle with respect to a plane perpendicular to the grill. The facade grill is then mounted with one of said sets of grill vanes lying over a louver over the exit orifice of a duct emitting conditioned air. The mounting is such as to permit either of the sets of vanes of the facade grill to be alternatively positioned over said exit orifice, whereby either a long or short blow of air is thrown into the area involved. A secondary hidden grill or louver may be mounted behind the primary grill. This secondary grill comprises two sets of vertically extending adjustablevanes permitting lateral deflection of the air stream.

The specific constructional details of a preferred embodiment of this invention, and their mode of functioning will be made most manifest and particularly pointed out in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view of a unit air conditioner with parts broken away to reveal the novel air distribution grill in operative position;

Figure 2 represents a schematic cross-sectional view through the facade grill illustrating the grill arranged for distributing a short blow of air from the conditioner;

Figure 3 is ,a schematic cross-sectional view similar to that of Figure 2, illustrating a grill arrangement for distributing a long blow of air;

7 Figure 4 is a partial detail view, on an enlarged scale, of the louver controlling lateral distribution of the air stream; and

Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 are schematic, plan views of different room layouts together with a representation of the air distributing unit contemplated by the invention.

As seen in the drawing, the novel construction here provided permits control of the air discharged from an air conditioning system in both a horizontal and vertical direction. The grill is here illustrated as of a rectangular configuration, but obviously may be modified to have any desired peripheral shape, so long as the vanes are arranged as disclosed. It will further be noted that the grill is shown as employed in conjunction with a unit air conditioner. It will be apparent, however, that the instant inventive features may be employed in conjunction with any type of air conditioning system, whether a unit conditioner, or a central system including ductwork.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, like numerals in the various figures will be taken to designate like parts.

The view shown in Figure 1 illustrates a typical arrangement of the novel grillwork arranged in connection with a unit air conditioner. The facade unit 10 is shown as of a rectangular shape, lying over the intake and dis- Facade unit 10 is provided with flanges extending about the sides, top and bottom of the unit adjacent its front edge. A notch 12 is formed on each side of the facade unit 10 to permit the flanges 11 of the facade unit to slide over a hand screw 13, which upon tightening, secures the facade unit vanes 16. Another portion of grill 15 is provided with shallow or acute angle long blow vanes 17, lying in parallel planes. The acuteness or obtuseness of the vanes is determined by angular measurements taken from the rear face of the grill on an arc swung upwardly in a counter clockwise direction between the rear face of the grill and the vane in question, as viewed in Figures 1, 2 and 3.

A partition vane 18 is provided extending outwardly perpendicular to the grill 15 at a point adjacent one of the center vanes of each of said sets of vanes 16 and 17 respectively. The partition vane co-operates with a barrier 19 having a gasket of resilient material mounted therein to define the boundary between the intake and outlet openings in the unit.

As best seen in Figures 1 and 4, a secondary unit or louver 25 is provided for positioning beneath the facade unit 10. This louver 25 is arranged to control the lateral deflection of any air stream passing therethrough and 'is supported on the unit and barrier 19.

Louver 25 comprises at least one and preferably two sets of vertically extending vanes 26. Each of these vanes 26 is pivotally mounted on pivot pins 27 in a supporting framework 28 arranged for securement to the air conditioning unit. The pivot point of said vanes 26 is at one edge thereof. A tie bar 30 extends between the vanes, whereby pivoting of any one of said vanes will result in a similar movement of each of the other vanes. This pivoting action is accomplished by extending one of the pivot pins 31 upwardly so that it extends from the air conditioning unit. A control lever 32 secured to said upwardly extending pivot pin 31 permits turning of said vane, and thereby each of the other vanes 26 coupled thereto by means of tie bar 39. While stationary vanes 29 are also shown, it will be understood that the movable vanes may extend entirely across the face of the unit.

The facade grill and louver 25 are here shown as employed in conjunction with a unit air conditioner. The unit air conditioner, as best seen in Figure 1, has an intake orifice 34 (shown in dot dash line) behind a filter screen 35. An outlet orifice (not shown) is provided behind louver 25 as viewed in Figure l. The cross sectional area of intake orifice 34 is considerably greater than that of the outlet orifice. It is thus seen that a greater portion of the facade grill will be taken up in covering the intake orifice 34 than is taken up in covering the outlet orifice.

The filter here employed is mounted over the intake orifice 34 by means of an elastic band 36 secured over screws 37 as shown. Thus, removal of the filter 35 for cleaning or replacement is accomplished merely by pulling elastic band 36 away from the filter.

Operation The above described air distribution grillwork functions most readily to provide control of both the lateral and vertical deflection of an air stream as discharged from an air conditioning system. It further aids in recirculation of the air from the conditioning area through the system.

Where the grillwork is arranged as shown in the drawings, air from the conditioned area to be recirculated through the air conditioning system is directed into the air conditioning system through intake orifices 34. Prior to entering into this intake orifice, it will pass through filter 35, and past vanes 17 (as viewed in Figure 1) and the portion of vanes 16 beneath partition vane 18. This produces a tunneling action aiding in the flow of air into said intake orifice.

A discharge orifice is covered by vanes 26 of louver 25. As is apparent, the position of vanes 26 regulates the lateral deflection of the air stream discharged therethrough. The short blow steep angle vanes 16 (as positioned over the discharge duct) serve to sharply deflect the air stream passing therethrough, with the result that it is upwardly deflected producing a relatively short throw of the air stream. Such conditions of air distribution may be desired where the occupants of the conditioned area are relatively close to the discharge orifices of the air conditioning equipment, and where a sharp draft of air is undesirable.

Alternatively, where it is desired to change the pattern of circulation of the conditioned air through the given area and rapid air movement is desired, then the facade grill is turned in its own plane through first loosening hand screw 13, and removing facade grill from its position on the air conditioning unit. After turning, the grill 10 is again secured in position, with the shallow angle long blow vanes 17 in operative position over the exhaust orifice. These shallow angle vanes deflect the air stream only slightly, thereby permitting the air to be thrown out over a wider circulation area. In both situations, the vanes direct the air stream upwardly to insure its distribution through a variety of areas, as will be more evident from a consideration of Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8.

The gist of the instant invention obviously resides in the fact that a plurality of sets of vanes is formed in an air distribution grill with any of .said .sets alternatively employable, making it readily possible to alternate the type of air distribution from a long blow to a short blow as desired, and at the same time permitting control of the lateral distribution. The plurality of sets of vanes may be employed in grillwork of any desired geometric peripheral connguration, and in any number.

In order to illustrate the flexibility of the air distribution apparatus described, reference may be had to Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8. The area to be supplied with air in each figure is indicated in dotted lines, while the air conditioning unit, equipped with the grill assembly forming the subject of this invention, is indicated in full lines.

Considering Figure 5, it will be understood that where this is an area, such a room having substantially the same length as its width, to be supplied with air, the grill will be assembled with the vanes 16 over the outlet of the unit. Louvers 26 may be arranged so as to define a divergent air flow in the interests of efficient distribution. In Figure 6, there is represented a room having one dimension large in comparison with the other. Under these circumstances the facade unit 10 is reversed so that vanes 17 overlie the outlet and the long blow type distribution is obtained. This permits etficient flow of air to the far end of the area.

Figure 7 illustrates an arrangement commonly employed in homes. Here the dining room and the living room are separated by a wall having an opening or archway permitting communication between the two rooms. Once again vanes 17 permit conditioned air how to the dining room. Another popular form of room arrangement is shown in Figure 8. The dinner area is supplied with conditioned air by utilizing vane 17 over the outlet and positioning the louvers 26 in the direction shown.

The above disclosure has been given by way of illustration and elucidation and not by way of limitation, and it is desired to protect all embodiments of the hereindisclosed inventive concept, within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A grill for distributing air comprising a frame, a first set of horizontally extending vanes adjacent one edge thereof each having a common acute angle of inclination with the plane of the grill and a second set of vanes vertically spaced from said set and adjacent the opposite edge of said frame, each having a common obtuse angle of inclination with the plane of the grill, the second angle of inclination being measured from the plane of'the grill in the same direction as the first angle is measured but' at an angle other than the complement of the aforementioned acute angle, so that rotationof the frame reverses the character of the angle of inclination of the two sets of vanes and changes the inclination of the air stream without changing the general direction thereof.

2. In an air conditioning apparatus having an outlet from which conditioned air is discharged in an air stream and an inlet for receiving air to be treated, air distribution means comprising a frame including a grill for facilitating distribution of the air stream in either a short or long throw blow, means for releasably mounting said grill relative to said outlet, said grill comprising a first set of parallel vanes extending across said grill adjacent one edge thereof at a first acute angle measured from a plane through the ends of the vanes to sharply deflect the air stream, and a second set of parallel vanes adjacent the opposed edge of the grill at a second acute angle measured from the plane through the ends of the vanes to slightly deflect the air stream, the angle of measurement of the second set of parallel vanes being in a reverse direction from the direction from which the first set of parallel vanes was measured and being of a different degree such that upon rotation of the grill suflicient to interchange the positions of the grill edges provides a set of vanes having a difierent angle of inclination for directing the air in the same general direction from the apparatus.

3. The invention set forth in claim 2 wherein vanes disposed behind at least one of said sets of parallel vanes are provided for imparting a multidirectional path to the air flowing from the system.

4. In an air supply apparatus having an outlet for the flow of air and an inlet for receiving air to be supplied, an air distribution grill comprising a frame, means for removably mounting the frame relative to said opening, a first set of horizontally extending vanes mounted in said frame overlying at least a portion of said outlet, each vane having a common angle of inclination with the plane of the outlet for directing air issuing from the outlet in a first direction and a second set of horizontally extending vanes overlying at least a portion of said inlet, each vane of said second set having a common angle of inclination with the plane of said outlet for directing air issuing from the outlet in the same direction as the first set but at a different inclination, the angle of inclination of the second set of vanes being in the opposite direction to the angle of inclination of the first set of vanes when the second set of vanes is mounted over said inlet, said second set of vanes serving to direct the air from the outlet at said different inclination upon rotation of the frame through an angle of substantially from the position of the grill when the first set of vanes serves to deflect air issuing from the outlet.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,116,873 Williams May 10, 1938 2,191,224 Adair Feb. 20, 1940 2,207,770 Andersen July 16, 1940 2,789,494 Goettl et al Apr. 23, 1957 

